Stabilizing device



May 17,1927.

A. EWALD STABILIZING DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1921 Z a w a I. F

v 2 M, I z u M (1- M INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEYS.

BY W,

Patented May 17, 1927.,

nnrr an S5? ARNO A. EVJALD, OE OAKFIELD, WISC01\T3IN.

STA'BILIVZINGI nnvr'on Application filed November 19, 1921. Serial-No. 516,499.

This invention relates to improvements in stabilizing or self-centering. devices. More particularly this invention relates to a doutile-acting, self-centering device adapted to be used wherever two adjacent members have a relative rotative movement in both directions andit .is desired to' provide resilient means for bringing said members to rest at some predetermined neutral point. its an example of mechanisms in which this invention may be used,- the drawings and description of this specification will disclose the application of this invention to a double-acting swinging. door hinge.

It will be pointed out in the succeeding paragraphs of this specification that the stabilizing device disclosed herein is applicable to double-acting door hinges and to other devices of like construction. This in-' ventionis in: fact applicable to any relatively rotatable members which it'is desiredto maintain in a neutral: position from which relative 1 otation may occur in either direc- '[i'OIli- The problems involved in the mak ing of a stabilizing device for a doubleacting door hinge are almost identical with those involved inathe construction of a sta: bil izing device for the steering gear of a motor vehicle. For example, it is necessary in either case to confine the stabilizing mechanism to a vorylimited space. It is also expedient in eithercase to provide stabilizing mechanism wherein a single spring is adaptedto perform the neutralizing function, so that if the spring. breaks, the device will not be left more unstable than it was originally without the spring. It is in either case desirableto provide such a. construction that the spring will not be subjected intei-mittently to compression and tension; it is well known that under such usage crystallization: is caused more rapidly than where aspring is fixed in one direction.

only. It is alsodesirable in either case to provide a stabilizingdevice of sturdy con:- struction and simple design, which may be cheaply manufactured and. readily assembled. Further objects of this invention are, therefore, to provide a stabilizing device adapted to fulfil the requirements above specified.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a view in which a relative motion between two relatively rotatable members has occurred and has placed the spring under tension.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the parts of the stabilizing device when the spring. has been tensioned by av relative rotation. of the same members in an opposite direction. V

Figure 3 is-a. view showing in: partial section the application to a swinging door of a double-acting hinge, in which the stabilizing device ofthis invention has been incorporated. l l I Like parts are identified. by the same. ref; erence characters throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing the dish or plate- 1 3 has a central cutout portion 14, I This plate is provided with the arcuate spring-engaging lugs 17 and, 18', and with a pair of guiding lugs 19 and '20. A; second plate 21 is mounted above the plate 13 and is provided with a pair 01"" downwardly turned, arcuatelugs 22 and 23 The disposition of the parts is such that. lugs 17' and '19 are adapted-to register normally withlugs 22v and 23 respectively.

A spiral spring 27', preferably of rectangular cross section, is coiled between the disks and is provided with oppositely turned hook-shaped ends 28 and 29 which normally engage the stationary lugs 22 andT23 respectively. It is to be'noted that all of! the lugs have concentric surfaces with respect to the center of rotation and that the lug-s Hand 18 are adaptedjto travel, upon rotation of the disk 13, in circular paths between the lugs 23 and 22, as may be seen from Figures 1 and 2*. Figure 2 shows the relative position of the partswhen they have been given a partial turn rel ative tofeach other. It will be seen from Figure 1' that the lug .18 hasn ioved past the Iug23 and has disengaged the hook-shaped end29' of the spring 2? from, the lug 23, andth'at the torque, due to the spring, is" ansmitted through the lug 18 to the plate"13,'thereb y tending to restore the plates 13' and 21 t'o relative neutral position. On the other hand, when the plates are turned to theposition shown in Figure. 2, the lug 17 supports the hook-shaped end 28 of the spring and disengages it from the lug 22'. Under these conditions, thetorque due to the tension of the spring, is transmitted thru the lug 17 to the plate 13 and tends to rotate the mechanism to neutral position.

With particular reference now to Figure 3, a door is represented at and a door l I l frame at 3'1. The upper and lower portions of the hinge may conveniently and cheaply be made of single stampings in the manner shown in the drawings.

The relatively fixed hinge member includes a plate 32 provided with screw holes by which it may be attached to the door frame. This plate is bent at right angles and its horizontally disposed portion 13, rounded at its outer end to conform to the shape of the co-acting disk 21, is provided with the usual lugs 17 and 19, which in the present instance, may be struck up or stamped from the material of the plate. In this embodiment, the disk 21 is the relatively movable member and it is provided with an integrally extended hasp 33 adapted to be se cured to the door 30. The material of disk 21 is pressed downwardly to form the lugs 22 and 23. A rivet or pin 34 connects members 21 and 13 and serves as the pintle of the hinge,-the pivot about which the mem bers 21 and 13 have relative rotative movement. The spring 27 lies coiled between the two members of the hinge and the functions of the several parts are identical with the functions of the corresponding parts previously discussed.

It will therefore be seen that with this mechanism a single spring may be employed to secure the return to neutral position of any relatively rotatable members regardless of the direction in which either of said members has been rotated. It will also be noted that the mechanism for securing the stabilizing effect may be associated with. conventional or standard parts in a hinge, or other device, by reason of the fact that this mechanism requires very little room for its installation. The stabilizing mechanism of this invention has the further advantages that the single spring is always tensioned in the same way regardless of the direction of rotation of the elements with which it isassociated, and is therefore "far less liable to crystallization and breakage than would otherwise be the case; and, even if breakage occurs, the parts are left in a normally balanced condition.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a pair of stampings axially connected by a pivot pin for relative rotation, in combim tion with lugs struck from said. stampings at radially spaced intervals and projecting into the space between said stampings from the stampings to which they are respectively connected, said lugs being arranged in sets normally including one lug connected with. each. stamping, and a spiral spring confined betweensaid stamp-ingsand provided at its ends with hook elements normally engaging both lugs of each set.

2. In a device of the character described, a pair of stampings axially connected by a pivot pin for relative rotation, in combination with lugs struck from said stampings at radially spaced intervals and projecting into the space between said stampings from the stampings to which they are respectively connected, said lugs being'awangcd in sets normally including one lug connected with each stamping, and a spiral spring confined between said. sta mpings and provided at its ends with hook elements normally engaging both. lugs of each set, each. of said stampings being provided with means for anchoring itto relatively rotatable parts, whereby said stampings and pivot pin comprise a hinge of which the stampings comprise the leaves and are adapted to be maintained normally centered by said spring and by said lugs.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of stampings comprising casing members formed to provide co-operative central bosses in pivotal connection, lugs integrally connected with said casing members and projecting from their respective members into the space between said members, said lugs being normally arranged in sets including one lug connected with each ofsaid members and the lugs of each set being adapted for relative arcuate movement when said members are subjected to relative rotation upon the axis of their pivotal connection, and a spiral spring provided at its ends with hooks normally embracing both lugs of each set.

4-. The combination with a pair of relatively HlOVZLlDlG. members, of inwardly projecting lugs carried by each member and arranged in sets, each including lugs from both members, a spring having ends engageable by a plurality of lugs Of a set, and means intermediate the ends of the spring for, guiding said spring.

5. The combinat'on with a pair of rela tively rotatable members, of inwardly projecting lugs carried by each member and arranged in sets, a spiral spring having ends normally engaged by a plurality of lugs of a set, and a slotted guide for. an intermediate portion of said spring projecting inwardly from one of said members and adapted to co-operate with said lugs in positioning said spring.

ARNO A. EVVALD. 

